Tuesday, November 14, 2017 ~ Janice Luttrell

Theme: Commonality - The reveal shows how the target word, FLAT, can be FINNISHed by the first word of the starred answers.

16A. *2010 Grammy winner for Best Metal Performance: IRON MAIDEN. Flat iron.

39A. *TV cooking competition hosted by Padma Lakshmi: TOP CHEF. Flat top.

10D. *Started a construction project: BROKE GROUND. Flat broke.

24D. *Money-saving investment accounts: TAX SHELTERS. Flat tax.

59A. Paint choice ... and what the first word of the answers to starred clues can literally be: FLAT FINISH

Argyle here. Janice has a nice Tuesday level offering. Classic pinwheel grid.

Across:

1. Fancy pillowcase: SHAM. What is a sham? Here

5. Not as expensive: LESS

9. Stats for sluggers: RBIs

13. Lotto variant: KENO

14. Actress Davis played by Susan Sarandon in TV's "Feud": BETTE. "Feud" was a television series on FX.

15. "Alice's Restaurant" singer Guthrie: ARLO

18. Opinion sampling: POLL

19. 2,000 pounds: TON

20. French possessive: SES. French - his.

21. __-Ball: midway game: SKEE

22. Discreetly, in slang: ON THE DL. "On the down low" unfortunately, has a sexual slang meaning. LIU, if you want.

26. Nag, nag, nag: PESTER

28. Black-eyed __: PEAs

29. Electrified particle: ION

31. Without an escort: STAG

32. Bygone Honda sports car: CR-X

                         Full race mode.

33. Impassive type: STOIC

35. Dry-sounding deodorant brand: ARRID

38. ICU drips: IVs

41. Sch. in Columbus: OSU. Ohio State University--Columbus, OH. We recently had the OSU in Corvallis, OR.

                              Wexner Medical Center

42. Tiny laugh: TE-HEE. I prefer TEE-HEE.

44. Bundle of papers: SHEAF

45. Put into service: USE

46. Airline to Tel Aviv: EL AL

48. Flub it: ERR

49. Letter-shaped hardware item: T-NUT

50. Sinuous ski race: SLALOM

52. Gets in the way of: IMPEDES

54. H.S. exams: SATs. Paper-based standardized test, originally called the Scholastic Aptitude Test, now just S A T.

55. Dripping: WET

57. SEAL's org.: USN

58. Tech news site: CNET

64. Longfellow's "The Bell of __": ATRI

65. Standoffish: ALOOF

66. Just sitting around: IDLE

67. Pear variety: BOSC

    Alright, who's the wise guy?

68. Mix, as a salad: TOSS

69. What Simon does: SAYS

Down:

1. Word before bum or bunny: SKI

2. "Tell __ About It": Billy Joel hit: HER

3. "That's __-brainer!": A NO

4. Wall calendar pages: MONTHS

5. Welcoming prop on "Hawaii Five-O": LEI

6. Scheduled takeoff hrs.: ETDs

7. Opposite of cheap: STEEP

8. Taste and touch, e.g.: SENSES

9. Nas or Nelly: RAP STAR

11. More green around the gills: ILLER. Ugh!

12. Shoe bottom: SOLE

14. Old Western villain: BANDITO

17. "The Simpsons" bartender: MOE

22. Footnote ref.: OP CIT. "in the work cited."

23. __-racking: very stressful: NERVE

25. Belt holders: LOOPS

27. Chief of __: Army leader: STAFF

30. Wall recess: NICHE

33. Make off with: STEAL

34. Sorbonne sweetie: CHERI. Mon ami.

36. Point to debate: ISSUE

37. Collaborative 1993 Sinatra album: DUETS

40. Half a winter warmer: EARMUFF

43. Stretchy: ELASTIC

47. Like 1% milk: LOW FAT

49. Wimbledon sport: TENNIS

50. __ Domingo: Dominican capital: SANTO

51. __ Yello: soft drink: MELLO

53. 23rd Greek letter: PSI

54. Picket line crosser: SCAB

56. New Mexico town known for its art scene: TAOS

60. Lean-__: shacks: TOs

61. Wash. neighbor: IDA.

62. Tricky: SLY

63. Guys: HEs

Argyle

Monday, October 9, 2017 ~ Janice Luttrell

Theme: This is only a test, so don't be alarmed.

17A. Unwise act that could be dangerous: FALSE MOVE. False alarm.

25A. Time-out for a cigarette: SMOKE BREAK. Smoke alarm.

35A. Dashboard music provider: CAR STEREO. Car alarm.

51A. Pre-talkies movie: SILENT FILM. Silent alarm.

60A. Hot chili designation, and a literal description of the starts of 17-, 25-, 35- and 51-Across: FOUR ALARM

Argyle here. Big beefy corners today, a bit unusual for a Monday. Also, a déjà vu feeling; a lot of recent clues/answers. Or is it just me?

Across:

1. "Death of a Salesman" salesman Willy: LOMAN. 1949 play written by American playwright Arthur Miller.

6. Abysmal grades: EF's

9. "__ Cross": 1949 Lancaster movie: CRISS

14. Friend's opposite: ENEMY

15. Minor point to pick: NIT

16. Convened again: REMET

19. Video game pioneer: ATARI

20. Singing syllable: TRA, La, La...

21. Vicinity: AREA

22. Type of cleansing acid: BORIC

23. Actress Skye: IONE

27. Upper crust groups: ELITEs. Um, not elists.

29. Courage and fortitude: METTLE

30. Done in, as a dragon: SLAIN

31. Swoosh company: NIKE. It takes courage and fortitude to slay one's dragons. Just do it.

34. Cold War state: Abbr.: SSR. (Soviet Socialist Republic)

39. Oral health org.: ADA. (American Dental Association)

42. "Piece of cake!": "EASY!"

43. Real doozies: LULUs

47. Dips for tortilla chips: SALSAs

50. Agree: ASSENT

55. "Please leave your message at the __": TONE. [BEEP!]

56. Illegal lending tactic: USURY

57. Wrath, in a hymn: IRAE. Dies Irae (Day of Wrath) definition: a famous Latin hymn of the 13th century, describing the Last Judgment. Collins English Dictionary.

58. Round green veggie: PEA

59. Helped: AIDED

63. "The Accidental Tourist" actress Davis: GEENA

64. Z, alphabet-wise: END

65. Start of a tennis point: SERVE

66. Opinion piece: ESSAY

67. Part of GPS: Abbr.: SYS. (Global Positioning System)

68. Passover feast: SEDER

Down:

1. Southpaws: LEFTIES. Also, LEFTYs.

2. Winning at craps, say: ON A ROLL

3. First lady after Michelle: MELANIA

4. Wee hrs.: AMs. (from the Latin, ante meridiem, meaning before midday)

5. PBS "Science Guy" Bill: NYE

6. Huge, in verse: ENORM

7. "Hawaii __": TV cop show: FIVE-O

8. T-bone, for one: STEAK

9. Buster who played Flash Gordon: CRABBE. Got to go back in the archives for this one. "Embedding disabled by request" No trailer, just a pic.

10. Sharp comeback: RETORT

11. Turkish travel shelters: IMARETS. Pretty fancy shelter! Learn more at Wiki.

12. Continuing stories: SERIALS. Like Flash Gordon.

13. Place for a new-car price: STICKER

18. Sunday service: MASS

24. Suffix with diet: ETIC. An adjective, pertaining to regulation of the use of food. Add an S on the end and it becomes a noun.(dietetics)

26. 911 situation: Abbr.: EMER. (emergency)

28. Disney doe: ENA. Bambi's aunt.

31. CIA cousin: NSA. (National Security Agency)

32. "__ not up to me": IT'S. "Go ask you mother/father."

33. Vitally important: KEY

36. Relax: REST

37. Overhead trains: ELS. (elevated)

38. Kick out of office: OUST

39. Appease: ASSUAGE

40. Yellow-disked flowers: DAISIES

           Daisies by Ernst Arnold

41. Refers casually (to): ALLUDES

44. Spotted wildcat: LEOPARD. Their spots can't be changed.

45. Rattle: UNNERVE

46. Soft-shell clam: STEAMER

48. Williams of tennis: SERENA. Sister of Venus.

49. Very soon: ANY DAY

50. From the States: Abbr.: AMER. (American)

52. Small winds paired with drums: FIFEs

                       Old Sturbridge Village

53. Literary twist: IRONY

54. Heaps praise on: LAUDS

61. Beast of burden: ASS

62. Golfer Trevino: LEE. "Pressure is playing for ten dollars when you don't have a dime in your pocket."

Argyle

Tuesday, January 10, 2017 Janice Luttrell

Theme: Three letter scramble - Janice OPTed to Stir the POT, not Spin the TOP.

17A. Dice roller's exhortation: COME TO PAPA

40A. Actor with near-synonymous first and last names: RIP TORN

11D. Pretty darn simple: IDIOT PROOF

25D. Toaster snack: POP TART

29D. Verses by Allen Ginsberg, e.g.: BEAT POETRY

61A. Cause trouble ... and a hint to this puzzle's circled letters: STIR THE POT

Argyle here. Puzzle has both 90- and 180-degree crossword symmetry. I'm not sure what that means; I just cut and paste what they tell me. Not having circles shouldn't have been much of a detriment to the solve.

Across:

1. Doofus: DOLT

5. Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant: K-CARS. Trivia - First Chrysler car to be produced in the metric system with metric screw threads and components.

10. Smack on the mouth: KISS

14. Letter-shaped support piece: I-BAR. The real deal, 46D. Steel girders: I-BEAMS

15. "For real!": "NO LIE!"

16. Pop singer Brickell: EDIE. Easy listening.

19. Scrabble piece: TILE

20. TV preview: TEASER

21. Taken as a whole: ALL TOLD

23. Satchel feature: STRAP

26. Margarita glass rim coating: SALT. Where is my lost shaker of salt?

27. Curved sword: SABER and CW sword of choice, 57D. Weapon with a tip guard: EPEE

30. Application info: Abbr.: DOB. (date of birth)

32. Pool measure: DEPTH

35. What soccer shootouts resolve: TIES

36. Peaceful state: REPOSE

38. P-like Greek letter: RHO

39. Actress Thurman: UMA

41. Museum hanging: OIL

42. Amount after costs: NET

43. Suitcase attachments: ID TAGS

44. Yuletide: NOEL

45. Not so hot?: TEPID

47. __ Lanka: SRI. Was there a bridge to Sri Lanka? Link

48. Swollen: PUFFY

49. Upper, in Ulm: OBER. Ulm is a German city on the River Danube.

51. Male voice range: TENOR

53. "Toodle-oo!": "CHEERIO!"

56. Evaluate for tax purposes: ASSESS

60. Wee bit: IOTA

64. Time in office: TERM

65. Emulate Vesuvius: ERUPT

66. Scarlet letter of fiction: RED 'A'

67. Slow Churned ice cream brand: EDY'S

68. Hagar of Van Halen: SAMMY. Funny video.

69. Wine bottle number: YEAR

Down:

1. Random House vol.: DICTionary

2. Woodwind instrument: OBOE

3. Dalai __: LAMA

4. Locks on heads: TRESSES

5. Soup mix brand: KNORR

6. "Blue Bloods" extra: COP. Tom Selleck as Frank Reagan, New York City Police Commissioner.

7. Pie-mode connection: À LA

8. TV host Kelly: RIPA. With hubby.

9. Applies weatherstripping to: SEALS

10. Stovetop whistler: KETTLE

12. Housecat's perch: SILL

13. Watermelon eater's discard: SEED

18. Four: Pref.: TETR. From the Greek word for four.

22. Saddled (with): LADEN

24. People with skill: ADEPTS

27. Publicity ploy: STUNT

28. Evangelist __ Semple McPherson: AIMEE. Maybe this clip will help me remember her but I doubt it.

31. Shake it on the dance floor: BOOGIE

33. Burglar: THIEF

34. "Deck the Halls" greenery: HOLLY

36. Free (of): RID

37. Yearbook gp.: SRs. (seniors)

40. One on horseback: RIDER

44. Room with a crib: NURSERY

48. Luxurious: POSH

50. Greets the judge: RISES

52. Well-dressed: NATTY

53. Mention in a footnote: CITE

54. Broke up some clods: HOED

55. Senorita's "other": OTRA

58. Scotch go-with: SODA. Ironic; a manhattan singing about a scotch

59. Walk of Fame figure: STAR

62. Periodic table suffix: IUM. lol, where'd that come from? I didn't see it when solving.

63. Turntable no.: RPM. (revolutions per minute)

Argyle

Tuesday, November 22, 2016 Janice Luttrell

Theme: Let's Build Something - You can find the tools we need in the grid.

17. One of a daily three at the table: SQUARE MEAL

41. Ten-spot: SAWBUCK

64. Reality show hosted by rapper M.C.: HAMMERTIME

11. Military marching unit: DRILL TEAM

34. Utmost effort: LEVEL BEST

Argyle the Builder here with Janice the Constructor. Very nice pinwheel project today with the all important SAW in the center. No plumb bob though. (Only seven three-letter words!)

Across:

1. Took a powder: LEFT

5. Wake-up call alternative: ALARM

10. Real estate ad abbr. after 2 or 3, commonly: BDRM. (bedroom)

14. Golfer Aoki: ISAO

15. Blender button: PURÉE

16. "Wonderfilled" cookie: OREO

19. __ colada: cocktail: PINA

20. Heart rate: PULSE

21. Tempo: PACE

22. Tar Heel State university: ELON

23. Hunting dog: SETTER

25. Israeli currency: SHEKEL. 1 Israeli New Sheqel equals 26 US Cents (Note the spelling change. We may see this in the future.)

27. __ out a living: EKEs. Had to wait on final letter, S or D.

29. Fiber-__ cable: OPTIC

32. Temperate: MILD

35. Jinx: HOODOO

39. Tokyo, long ago: EDO

40. Drink cooler: ICE

42. Ga. neighbor: ALA. (Georgia/Alabama)

43. Voting mo.: NOV. (November)

44. Ditching class, say: ABSENT

45. Visa rival, for short: AMEX. (American Express)

46. Mournful toll: KNELL

48. Former OTC market regulator: NASD. The phrase "over-the-counter" can be used to refer to stocks that trade via a dealer network as opposed to on a centralized exchange./ The National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) was the self-regulatory organization of the securities industry responsible for the operation and regulation of the NASDAQ stock market and over-the-counter markets.

50. Trendy, with "the": LATEST

54. NFL team that moved from St. Louis in 2016: L.A. RAMS

58. Perfume that sounds forbidden: TABU

60. Foes of us: THEM

62. "The Bourne Identity" star Matt: DAMON

63. Universal donor's blood type, briefly: O NEG

66. "Golly!": "GOSH!"

67. Suggest: IMPLY

68. Salinger title girl: ESME

69. Aardvark fare: ANTS

70. Affectionate nickname: CUTIE

71. __-Pei: wrinkly dog: SHAR

Down:

1. Talks like Sylvester: LISPS

2. Suffix with arab: ESQUE

3. San Andreas __: FAULT

4. Like much breakfast bread: TOASTED or a CSO to Tinman.

5. Jungle chest-beater: APE

6. Sugar cube: LUMP

7. Real estate calculations: AREAS

8. Gunslinger's "Hands up!": "REACH!"

9. Brawl: MELEE. (clever Sunday offering)

10. Girl with a missing flock: BO PEEP

12. Gambling town northeast of Sacramento: RENO

13. Sound of pain: MOAN

18. Smell bad: REEK

24. Halfway house activity: REHAB. (Rehabilitation)

26. Oddball: KOOK

28. Spreads, as seeds: SOWs

30. Sitting around doing nothing: IDLE

31. Win over gently: COAX

32. Luxurious fur: MINK

33. Twitter's bird, e.g.: ICON

36. Brit. honor: OBE, (Officer (of the Order) of the British Empire)

37. Brooks' country music partner: DUNN

38. In base eight: OCTAL

41. Fries sprinkling: SALT

45. Costs for sponsors: AD RATES

47. Guffaws or giggles: LAUGHS

49. Iraq's __ City: SADR

51. Code of conduct: ETHIC

52. SeaWorld orca: SHAMU

53. Entice: TEMPT

55. Horse-and-buggy-driving sect: AMISH

56. Mother's nickname: MOMMA

57. Lip-curling look: SNEER

58. Frat party robe: TOGA

59. Very shortly, to Shakespeare: ANON

61. Mid-21st century date: MMLI. (2051)

65. Cornea's place: EYE

Argyle

Tuesday, November 1, 2016 Janice Luttrell

Theme: Word Link - A single word that may be used in conjunction with four other dissimilar words.

55A. Leave hurriedly ... and, literally, what the first words of the answers to starred clues can do: TAKE A POWDER

20A. *Shake off one's daydreams: FACE REALITY. Face powder.

39A. *Cause of chubby cheeks, perhaps: BABY FAT. Baby powder.

11D. *Ingratiate oneself (with): CURRY FAVOR. Curry powder.

29D. *Bargain hunter's venue: FLEA MARKET. Flea powder.

Rabbit Rabbit! Argyle here. Needed the reveal today, that's for sure. I did think of Marti; she would love some fresh powder for skiing. The first two powders you could mix up but not those last two!

Across:

1. Working stiff: PEON

5. Brief timetable: SKED. (schedule)

9. Racing venue near Windsor Castle: ASCOT

14. "Beetle Bailey" dog: OTTO

15. Greet from a distance: WAVE

16. Waste not: REUSE. "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without"

17. Inch or foot: UNIT. Unit of measure.

18. Actor Bana of "Closed Circuit": ERIC. I don't remember it.

19. Singer Haggard: MERLE

23. Towel holder: ROD

24. Strokes on greens: PUTTS

25. Rap fan: B-BOY. Think breakdancing.

27. Little child, in Cannes: ENFANT

30. Decanter relatives: CARAFEs

33. Richly adorn: GILD

34. "Born Free" lioness: ELSA

37. Carne __: Mexican dish: ASADA

38. Old AT&T rival: GTE. Formerly General Telephone & Electric Corporation. Update: That should be Electronics. It appears Wikipedia has it wrong.

41. Perp's prey, in copspeak: VIC. (victim)

42. French floor: ÉTAGE

44. Like the lama, but not the llama, in a Nash poem: ONE L

45. Foot warmer: SOCK

46. Switches for mood lighting: DIMMERS

48. Boardroom illustrations: CHARTS

50. Farmland measure: ACRE

51. Tawdry: SEAMY

53. Trojan __: WAR

60. Joint commonly sprained: ANKLE

62. __ facto: IPSO. (by that very fact or act.)

63. "__ a heart!": HAVE

64. Stout mug: STEIN

65. Property claim: LIEN

66. Biblical garden: EDEN

67. __ four: small cake: PETIT. Not suitable for handing out on Halloween, mores the pity though.

68. "A __ of Two Cities": TALE

69. Bird's home: NEST

Down:

1. High hair style: POUF. Can you find a Winnie the Pouf hair do?

2. Active European volcano: ETNA

3. Of the ears: OTIC

4. Tablet: NOTEPAD

5. Sugary brewed drink: SWEET TEA

6. K, to a jeweler: KARAT

7. Lesser of two __: EVILS

8. Metric prefix: DECI

9. Kid in a military family: ARMY BRAT

10. Observe: SEE

12. Norwegian capital: OSLO

13. Ready to be kicked off: TEED. Are you ready for some football?

21. Gallop: RUN

22. Ltrs. in an unfilled TV time slot: TBA. (to be announced)

26. Western treaty org.: OAS. (Organization of American States)

27. Urged (on): EGGED

28. Gangster Frank in "Road to Perdition": NITTI

30. Street eatery: CAFE

31. Order from on high: EDICT

32. Pink-slips: SACKS

35. Debt-heavy corp. deals: LBOs. (leveraged buyout)

36. Word in a thesaurus: Abbr.: SYN. (synonym)

39. Temporary Oktoberfest structure: BEER TENT

40. "The Untouchables" gangster: AL CAPONE

43. Yukon automaker: GMC. (General Motors Truck Company)

45. Drink pourer's words: "SAY WHEN"

47. Actor Stephen: REA

49. Wellness gp.: HMO. (Health Maintenance Organization)

51. Vintage photo hue: SEPIA

52. Painter's stand: EASEL

53. Hornet, e.g.: WASP

54. Poker bet that's not optional: ANTE. No ante, no cards for you!

56. Highland garb: KILT

57. Florida's Miami-__ County: DADE

58. Times to call, in ads: EVES. (evenings)

59. Apartment payment: RENT

61. 52, in old Rome: LII

Argyle

Tuesday, October 11 2016, Janice Lutrell

 Theme: The show must go on.

20. *Artsy Lower Manhattan neighborhood : EAST VILLAGE

58. *Drug bust calculation : STREET VALUE

11. *Panel decision that's not unanimous : SPLIT VOTE

 35. *Became a YouTube sensation : WENT VIRAL

40. Set in a den, slangily ... or, initially, what can be found in each answer to a starred clue : THE TUBE.

Most TV's in use now are LCD or plasma. The old style CRT, or Cathode Ray Tube is a vacuum tube - and that's about all I know about that. Even though the CRT didn't last, the term "The Tube" might just be around forever.

Melissa here. I had to work way too hard for this one, for no particular reason that I can say. Only two total unknowns but I had to work for the tada just the same.

Across

1. __ and flows : EBBS

5. Stepped heavily : TROD

9. __ Rica : COSTA

14. Pitcher's goof : BALK

15. Inflatable mattress prefix with Bed : AERO. Great crossword word, three vowels.

16. Colorado ski mecca : ASPEN

17. Muslim denomination : SHIA. Tried SIKH first, and discovered after looking it up that Sikhs are neither Hindu nor Muslim. Learning moment.

18. Not fatty, as meat : LEAN

19. Lease again : RELET

23. Car owner's premium pmt. : INS

24. American of Japanese descent : NISEI. Unknwown #1.

25. Dieter's catchword : LOFAT. Had to wait for the L to fill in - LOFAT or NOFAT?

27. Sweat unit : BEAD

30. Originates (from) : DERIVES

33. Like morning grass : DEWY

36. Title for Doubtfire or Dash : MRS.

38. Site of Arizona's Red Rock State Park : SEDONA

39. Rocks in bars : ICE

42. Gratuity : TIP

43. Dessert with a cherry : SUNDAE

45. Refreshing retreat : SPA

46. Wines that usually go well with beef : REDS

47. __ seat: advantageous spot : CATBIRD. I don't hear this phrase often, do you?

49. In couch-potato mode : IDLE. Watching the tube, perhaps.

51. France dance : VALSE. Second unknown for me. So sneaky, once I realized that VALSE is the French word for waltz. Oh.

52. Up to one's ears (in) : AWASH

56. Architect I.M. __ : PEI

62. Throat ailment : STREP

64. Modest skirt : MIDI. Tried MAXI first.

65. Writer Jaffe : RONA. Author of "The Best of Everything," made into a movie. Died in 2005.

66. Video game pioneer : ATARI

67. Region : AREA

68. Sullen : DOUR

69. Makeover place : SALON

70. Camera attachment : LENS

71. Bay Area cop gp. : SFPD

Down:

1. "Barnaby Jones" actor Buddy : EBSEN

2. Persian faith : BAHA'I

3. Utter joy : BLISS

4. Glide past on the ice : SKATE BY

5. Anklebones : TALI

6. Movie spool : REEL

7. Verbal : ORAL

8. Name on a Trump card? : DONALD

9. Untroubled : CAREFREE

10. Suffix with fruct- : OSE

12. "The Hunger Games" extra : TEEN

13. Picnic invaders : ANTS

21. "C'est la __!" : VIE

22. Turns sour : GOES BAD

26. Help : AID

28. UMass town : AMHERST

29. Hip-hop Dr. : DRE

31. Oklahoma's "Wheat Capital" : ENID

32. Drains of strength : SAPS

33. Phonograph record : DISC

34. Quito's country: Abbr. : ECUA. Quito is the capital of Ecuador.

37. N.Y. and Calif. : STs

40. Dramatic downturn : TAILSPIN

41. Wire service letters : UPI. United Press International

44. Corporate alias abbr. : DBA. (Doing Business As)

46. Bounty hunters' goals : REWARDS

48. Of the skin : DERMAL

50. Where a Brit may powder her nose : LAV. (Britain, slang) Short for lavatory.

53. Unlikely to get excited : ALOOF

54. Dawn : SUN UP

55. Listened to : HEARD

56. "This is your brain on drugs" ads, briefly : PSAs. Public Service Announcement

57. Singer James : ETTA

59. Irish name for Ireland : EIRE

60. Xanadu : EDEN

61. Spanish aunts : TIAs

63. Suffix with ranch : ERO